FasterCures worked closely with Congress, federal agencies and the advocacy community throughout the legislation’s journey to the president’s desk. In February 2017, we debuted the 21st Century Cures Tracker to track the implementation of the 100+ sections in Division A, which include the key provisions relevant to biomedical research and innovation. (Other divisions of the law pertain to mental health and Medicare; since those are not areas of focus for FasterCures, we will not be actively tracking them here.) Learn more about how to use the tracker with our FAQs page.

A few examples of the issues we will be tracking include the impact of changes to the National Institutes of Health’s administrative requirements for grantees, how the Food and Drug Administration implements new changes designed to enhance patient engagement and how the Department of Health and Human Services is using its new authorities to promote health information technology interoperability.

Many external factors will affect the progress of these initiatives, including policies related to hiring freezes and uncertain funding levels. This tracker is not meant to be a pass/fail report card, but rather a snapshot in time that can help explain impact and identify where progress is needed.

Please keep coming back, as we will be updating the information regularly. Use the button below to send us feedback on the value of the information we are presenting, and the usability of this new resource.

12/13/2018: requires issuance of a Report On Activities To Encourage Compliance describing education and outreach, guidance, enforcement, and other activities undertaken to encourage compliance with section 402(j) of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 282(j)).
Not later than 2 years after the final compliance date under the final rule implementing section 402(j) of the Public Health Service Act, and every 2 years thereafter for the next 4 years, issuance of a Report on Clinical Trials

3/13/2017 (90 days): requires HHS to consult with relevant Federal agencies, including the Food and Drug Administration, the Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology, and the National Institutes of Health, as well as other stakeholders (including patients, researchers, physicians, industry representatives, and developers of health information technology) to receive recommendations with respect to enhancements to the clinical trial registry data bank under section 402(j) of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 282(j)), including with respect to usability, functionality, and search capability.

6/13/2018: directs FDA to host a public meeting to discuss the incorporation of complex adaptive and other novel trial designs into clinical protocols and new drug applications.

12/13/2019: requires FDA to issue draft guidance addressing the use of complex adaptive and other novel trial design in the development of new drugs or biologicals; within 1 year after the public comment period closes, FDA finalization of such guidance.

9/30/2018: FDA initiated a pilot program to help drug developers use complex innovative trial designs, an element of the most recent PDUFA agreement.

8/29/2018: FDA launched a pilot program, the "Complex Innovative Designs Pilot Meeting Program," which provides drug and biologic companies the opportunities to discuss the use of novel complex innovative trial designs (CID) with agency staff for their clinical development programs.

12/13/2018: requires HHS to submit a report to Congress describing progress being made to harmonize differences between the human subject regulations under the Common Rule and the Federal Food Drug and Cosmetic Act.

2/21/2018: FDA announced it is amending its regulations on acceptance of data from clinical investigations for medical devices. FDA recognized its 21st Century Cures obligation to harmonize the differences between the HHS human subject regulations and FDA's human subject regulations. FDA will be working with others at HHS in carrying out this statutory directive, including with respect to de-identified human specimens.

12/20/2018: FDA is extending the comment period for the amendment proposed on November 15, 2018. Comments must be submitted by February 13, 2019.

11/15/2018: FDA is proposing an amendment to allow for an exception from the requirement to obtain informed consent for clinical investigations that pose no more than minimal risk to human subjects. Public comments on this proposed rule are requested and must be submitted by January 14, 2019.

7/24/2017: FDA announced its intent to revise its informed consent regulations to add a waiver or alteration for minimal risk clinical investigations, under appropriate human subject protection safeguards, to the two existing exceptions from informed consent. FDA also issued guidance, informing sponsors, investigators, and IRBs on FDA's approach to such investigations in the interim until the final regulations are issued.